 |
 |
Just a thought - but if you have one student with a laptop, and a note taker with a laptop (and a wireless connection) wouldn't it be possible to provide a solution using Google Docs (which would be free) rather than using Stereotype. The text would appear in real-time and the student could have Google Docs set up to suit colour preferences, text size etc via the Access options from within the browser. Craig -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Turner, Paddy Sent: 10 November 2008 11:20 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Accessibility of lectures for student with hearing loss Hi Michael, When we found a student in a similar position a few years back, we started the process of creating an electronic note-taking (ENT) service. We copied the idea from the RNIDs Speedtext service which wasn't appropriate for our use at that time. (see: http://www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/communication/fa ctsheets_leaflets/working_with_an_electronic_notetaker.htm) This development went on to become Stereotype and is now an independent business, see this site for more info: http://www.stereotypenotetakingsoftware.com/software.html The student concerned was missing everything, de-motivated and contemplating withdrawal. He now has an excellent job in his chosen career following a 2:1. Verbatim solutions can also be tried but they should come with warnings regarding the expense, availability and problems with miscues. Using voice to text solutions such as Dragon linked to the tutors mic have not been satisfactorily tested but given the training required with the tutor and the likelihood that several tutors will have to undergo this, it doesn't appear very practical to us either. We've now been using ENT successfully for something like 8 years and it is no coincidence that the Universities with high numbers of deaf students, Wolverhampton, UCLan, Bristol for example, all use some form of ENT - because it works! Good luck best wishes Paddy -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Woodman Sent: 10 November 2008 10:55 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Accessibility of lectures for student with hearing loss Dear All: Wonder if anybody could offer any advice re: supporting a Biomedical Sciences student with profound hearing loss who doesn't use BSL, but relies entirely on lip-reading. Despite our attempts to make lectures as accessible as possible, the student finds it extremely difficult to get anything of use from lectures. He uses a radio mic to support what hearing he does have, but this clearly isn't enough. He has requested that he no longer attends lectures, and that his note-taker support attends instead, as he feels this will be a better use of his time. Academic staff have actually agreed to this in the short term while we figure out a different solution, but it isn't ideal. His note-taker is uncomfortable with this, and it's clear he is missing out on any student / lecturer interaction that take place in these lectures. One suggestion was that lectures are recorded for the student, and then subtitled. This would be a large undertaking but might it be reasonable? Does anybody else have any other suggestions? Thanks, -- Michael Woodman Disabilities Coordinator Registry, Hunter Wing, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, SW17 0RE. www.sgul.ac.uk/disability Tel: 020 8725 0143 Fax: 020 8725 0841 [log in to unmask] No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.0/1778 - Release Date: 09/11/2008 14:14